PRO 96 ?

[fourwd1]

OK, since the P96 is on sale and my newest scanner is a BC235, I stopped by a RS store in AA Co to look at it. Naturally the clerk was totally clueless. After playing with it I discovered someone had loaded the BALTO area V-Folder into it.

I managed to receive some transmissions on the BA Co and How Co TRS's, but only while stepping thru the channels in the Manual mode. While scanning it would not stop on any transmission.

WHY ?

The How Co transmissions were very broken up, this can't be normal. Possibly due to weak signal strength in the mall?

While manually stepping thru the channels I noticed all the freqs for the systems were loaded in. I thought only the Control Channels were necessary for the P96. I'm guesing they put all a systems's freqs in the V-Folder banks for "insurance", in case a CC freq changes for instance? Or does the scanner load these in using the CC info?

Also, after reading all the manuals and support docs on the RS site, I haven't seen anything that plainly tells one how to interpret the display.

Also, I understand the concept of loading a V-Folder into the scanner, but can you load only certain banks/systems from multiple V-Folders since they have MD broken up into 2 folders?

And is there a listing anywhere of the specific contents of each bank in a V-Folder?

 

[ka3jjz]

Right...you're going to hear Baltimore and Howard (which is digital, remember) reliably while you're in a store in a mall on a duckie - what are you smoking?
With all that shielding, not to mention computer hash and other junk inside the store, I'd be willing to bet that desense was getting you big-time.

And as for the data in the V folders, look ....here
yes, that's right, this site
RadioReference was the source of much of the V folder data; of course, there's been some changes - AA county redid their frequency bandplan and system shortly after the PRO96 was issued, so much of the info in the V folder for this system is incorrect. That's what Win96 is for!

73s Mike

 

[fourwd1]

Actually, I was impressed that I could RX the Balto Co TRS at all. But considering I was maybe 5 miles (line of site) from the How Co tower I would expect fair reception inside the mall. It was very clear when it wasn't cutting out.

I am very familiar whith the data base on this site, but I was looking for detailed info of folder contents - like what freq is loaded into ea ch of ea bank, what TG's are loaded into the memory's, etc.

So, do you have any helpful answers to my other questions?

 

[ka3jjz]

Actually, I was impressed that I could RX the Balto Co TRS at all. But considering I was maybe 5 miles (line of site) from the How Co tower I would expect fair reception inside the mall. It was very clear when it wasn't cutting out.

I am very familiar whith the data base on this site, but I was looking for detailed info of folder contents - like what freq is loaded into ea ch of ea bank, what TG's are loaded into the memory's, etc.

So, do you have any helpful answers to my other questions?

Wish I did, sri about that. I'm saving up my pennies for the 296/796 anyway, since they cover milair. No doubt some other 96 owner will jump in and answer....73s Mike

 

[RolnCode3]

You can download the pre-loaded databases from Starr's website. Open it up in Excel and you should be able to take a look at it. Click on Pro-96 --> click on "The Official RadioShack V-Scanner folder contents". That'll download it.

You can only load one V-folder at a time. If your area is broken into 2 folders, you can only listen to one at a time. You'd have to modify the files to move everything you want to listen to into one V-folder. And, you can only load the ENTIRE V-folder, not just part of it. So you can't load half of one, and then half of another. Have to create your own file.

While ON the scanner, you can't scroll thru the V-folder to take a look at what's in it (AFAIK). You can only load it up and then take a look at it.

 

[mikey60]

The pro-96 can be milair enabled, although there is varying reports of how good it really is in that area. I don't do enough milair monitoring to know...

As far as the default Vfolders, there is a booklet that comes with the Pro96 that lists what is in each one, but not with the level of detail you're looking for. It basically says that in VFolder 1, you have these banks, and in VFolder 2 you have these... No more detail than that.

That can be found in PDF form at http://support.radioshack.com/support_electronics/doc71/71779.pdf

If you buy the Pro96, get the PC cable and Win96, and you can configure it the way you want it easily. My radio hasn't had the default VFolders in it for a very long time.

Mike

 

[fourwd1]

Yeah, I downloaded that PDF file off the RS support site, that's how I found out my area was split between 2 folders. Just thought there might be more specific info available somewhere.

PC control is definitly the way to go and allow customization.
Load the most appropriate V-folder and go from there.

What is the best source for the cable? I'm guesing it's ridiculously over priced @ RS.

 

[mikey60]

Yeah, I downloaded that PDF file off the RS support site, that's how I found out my area was split between 2 folders. Just thought there might be more specific info available somewhere.

PC control is definitly the way to go and allow customization.
Load the most appropriate V-folder and go from there.

What is the best source for the cable? I'm guesing it's ridiculously over priced @ RS.

I think it's $21.95 from RS... There are other sources as well, if you search for "cable" I'm sure more information will come up. Win96 is another $30 but it's well worth it...

Mike

 

[Admin0140434]

fourwd1... you must have been at arundel mills

i didnt read everyones posts (just the first 2 or 3), but since most of your questions have been answered, i will answer the one that sticks out in my mind.

Also, I understand the concept of loading a V-Folder into the scanner, but can you load only certain banks/systems from multiple V-Folders since they have MD broken up into 2 folders?

try using NINN27's emergency p96 file. it eliminates the DE and PA systems in the Balt VFolder, but adds in DC Fire/Police and Montgomery Co. It's the only VFolder i really use.

 

[Admin0140434]

P.S.

file can be found on page three... make sure you download that file that is near the bottom (as the first one has some minore glitches)

enjoy

 

[ka3jjz]

Yeah, I downloaded that PDF file off the RS support site, that's how I found out my area was split between 2 folders. Just thought there might be more specific info available somewhere.

PC control is definitly the way to go and allow customization.
Load the most appropriate V-folder and go from there.

What is the best source for the cable? I'm guesing it's ridiculously over priced @ RS.

I think it's $21.95 from RS... There are other sources as well, if you search for "cable" I'm sure more information will come up. Win96 is another $30 but it's well worth it...

Mike

Here's a page that describes, in detail, the various cables; and even a few that you can build yourself...

http://www.starrsoft.com/software/win96/cables/cables.html

and if you get into a real pinch - RS runs out of the 048 cable; here's another source that I understand also has cables that work (someone may want to comment on this)...

http://www.pro96.com/

73s Mike

 

[fourwd1]

fourwd1... you must have been at arundel mills

i didnt read everyones posts (just the first 2 or 3), but since most of your questions have been answered, i will answer the one that sticks out in my mind.

Also, I understand the concept of loading a V-Folder into the scanner, but can you load only certain banks/systems from multiple V-Folders since they have MD broken up into 2 folders?

try using NINN27's emergency p96 file. it eliminates the DE and PA systems in the Balt VFolder, but adds in DC Fire/Police and Montgomery Co. It's the only VFolder i really use.

Yeah, Arundle Mills. I'll check out the P96 file you refer to, sounds like what I need. Then just do some tweaking.

Thanks for all the other info everyone, very helpful.

 

[dc2wheel]

There are also some Baltimore & DC .p96 files here:

http://www.henney.com/chm/files/p96files/index.htm

-dc2wheel

 

[ka3jjz]

There are also some Baltimore & DC .p96 files here:

http://www.henney.com/chm/files/p96files/index.htm

-dc2wheel

Yeah, Al wrote me just recently that he has a few more of those files to be posted on the page; hopefully that will include NINN27's excellant emergency file...but if you don't find something that interests you on that page, there are a few other places to check;

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RS_GRE-Digital-Scanner/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PRO-96/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Win96/

73s and stay warm...Mike

 

[ffjeff1984]

The PRO-96 Model is a Very Nice Scanner... Really would Be Nice For
The First Time Scanner Fanatics....